L
Laura Mundow

Laura's Story

Laura joined Watsi on January 7th, 2026. 17 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Laura's most recent donation supported Snollah, a vegetable seller from Malawi, to fund a hysterectomy.

Impact

Laura has funded healthcare for 22 patients in 8 countries.

Patients funded by Laura

50-year-old Snollah is a small-scale businesswoman who sells tomatoes in her neighborhood in Malawi. Together, she and her husband have three children, the youngest of whom is still in school. Snollah's husband is a quantity surveyor who is currently unable to work, due to a diagnosis of prostate cancer, for which he is receiving treatment. For about three years now, Snollah has been experiencing backaches, lower abdominal pains and a lack of appetite. At first, she was treated for epigastric pain, but when that didn't work, she returned to the hospital, where scans revealed several large, uterine fibroids. Because of the size of these tumors, they are considered to be potentially dangerous, as they can cause pressure on other organs. She was informed that she would need to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,363 to fund Snollah's surgery, which is scheduled to take place on June 8th, at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once recovered, Snollah will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain, and to continue to support her husband. She says, "I experience fullness in my belly which is very uncomfortable. Your support will provide comfort and help me be a supportive mother."

$949raised
$414to go

Sotheavy is an 11-year-old student from Cambodia. Her father is a police officer, and her mother works at a grocery shop. She is in Grade 4, and English is her favorite subject. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and reading storybooks. Her favorite foods are sour fish soup and fried pork with vegetables. Sotheavy was born with left torticollis, a condition in which the tight muscle on the left side of her neck causes her head to tilt to the left. The condition has become worse over the past year. She has difficulty bending her neck to the right because of the tight muscle. She also feels shy about her appearance because her head tilts to one side. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Sotheavy receive treatment. On October 29th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to loosen the tight muscle in her neck, helping her hold her head straighter and move it more easily. This may also help her feel more comfortable and confident about her appearance. Now, she needs help to fund this $572 procedure. Sotheavy's mother said, “As her mother, I hope the surgery will help straighten my daughter’s neck and make it easier for her to move her head. She often feels shy about her appearance, and I want her to feel more confident, comfortable, and happy with herself as she grows up.”

$60raised
$512to go

Rama is a 27-year-old day laborer from Cambodia. He is married and lives in Ratanakiri Province with his wife, who is also a day laborer. They have two children; a son in Grade 1 and a three-year-old child. In his free time, Rama enjoys caring for his children and growing vegetables around his home. Two years ago, Rama was involved in a motorcycle accident in Ratanakiri, which caused a fracture of his thighbone. Following the accident, he underwent surgery at a local hospital, where doctors fixed the fracture using a metal plate and screws. A year later, he developed a fistula and had one screw removed at Children's Surgical Centre. However, the remaining hardware has brought on persistent discharging sinus, along with pain and difficulty in walking. The symptoms have also made it difficult for him to continue working as a day laborer, impacting his ability to provide for his family. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On July 1st, Rama will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will help the wound heal properly, relieve pain, and improve his ability to walk. This will allow him to return to work and care for his family more comfortably. Rama and his family are able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but need help raising $303 more to fund the procedure. He said, “I am grateful to have this opportunity for treatment. I hope I can recover well, return to work, and spend time with my children without pain.”

$70raised
$233to go

Nay is an expectant mother from Burma. She lives with her husband, her sister-in-law, brother-in-law, her nephew, and her grandmother in a refugee camp in Sob Moe District, Mae Hong Song Province, Thailand. Her husband is a general day laborer who works outside of the camp. During her free time, she likes to cook and clean her house. Nay is expecting her first child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section due to cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD). This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Nay undergo a C-Section on August 24th. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Nay needs your support. Nay’s husband said, “I am very worried about my wife and my child, but I am also happy to get to meet my baby. If there are no donors to help us, we will need to borrow money, but I still do not know where to borrow from, as most of the people in the camp do not have much money to let us borrow. Thank you to all the donors, and may your work be successful and may you be safe from any danger.”

$983raised
$517to go

James is 48 years old and a father of three from Malawi. He works as a driver, but is now unable to work due to his health condition. Six months ago, James was diagnosed with a bilateral inguinal hernia, a condition where abdominal tissue or fat pushes through weak spots in the lower abdominal wall on both sides of the pubic bone. This requires prompt medical attention because it causes pain and carries a risk of other health complications. Surgical support helps to save one's life. Fortunately, on July 1st, James will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $575 to fund James's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. James looks forward to surgery that will bring back his life, enabling him to concentrate on his job and support his family. He shared, "Your support will save my life and my family's as I am the breadwinner."

$440raised
$135to go

Wadaje is an 18-year-old girl from Ethiopia. She is a college student who lives with her older sister. Two months ago, Wadaje started to experience an itchy infection on her right finger. The wound developed into a contracture, causing significant difficulty with movement. Following her initial treatment at a local small clinic, she developed a severe hand contracture that has left her hand stiff and difficult to use. This has significantly disrupted her studies and daily life. The resulting loss of independence is deeply distressing, as she now depends on her sister for almost everything, which creates a difficult situation for them both. When Wadaje learned about our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, she traveled for one week seeking treatment. On June 3rd, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to gradually restore movement to the right finger. This will make it easier to handle schoolwork and help with household duties comfortably, while also decreasing the frequency and cost of hospital visits. Now, she needs help to fund this $500 procedure. Wadaje said, "I hope to regain the health and skills required to perform my academic and daily tasks with ease, which is vital for my success as a college student."

$167raised
$333to go

Ly Ching is a 21-year-old university student from Cambodia. She lives in Phnom Penh with her elderly parents and two older brothers. She is the youngest child in the family. Her older brother is a lawyer, and her second brother works as a court clerk. She is studying law at university. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music and watching movies. Ly Ching was born with polydactyly of both hands. This means that she was born with an extra thumb on both hands. The extra thumbs make it difficult for her to grasp objects, write, and perform some daily activities. She also feels self-conscious about the appearance of her hands. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On July 20th, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra fingers so she can use her hands more comfortably and perform daily activities more easily. Her family can contribute $100, but needs help raising $279 to fund her procedure and care. Ly Ching said, “I have lived with this condition my whole life. I hope this surgery will make it easier to use my hand and give me more confidence in my daily life.”

$70raised
$209to go

Elile is a three-year-old girl from Ethiopia. This bright young girl lives in a home dedicated to helping others, with a physician for a father and a teacher for a mother. Despite their medical and educational expertise, the family faces a tiring cycle of hospital visits that places a heavy logistical burden on parents working as dedicated government staff members. For one year now, Ellie has been experiencing chronic tonsillitis, causing fever and difficulty eating. This drains her energy and makes it difficult for her to obtain the necessary nutrition to thrive. If not treated, it will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Elile, which is scheduled to take place on April 25th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Elile of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Ellie's parents said, "We hope to leave the constant anxiety of illness behind. We look forward to a time when we can focus on work, while Ellie can simply focus on being a healthy and active child."

$700raised
Fully funded

Yeng is a 61-year-old rice farmer from Kampong Cham province. She is married and has three daughters, one son and six grandchildren. She lives with her husband who is a rice farmer and with her youngest daughter who is a student. She likes to watch funny movies on the TV. About one year ago, Yeng developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Yeng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On May 11th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery, and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Yeng and her family are able to contribute towards the cost of her treatment, but need help raising $228 to fund the surgery. Yeng said, "I hope that after surgery my eye can see clearly, so I can go back to growing rice, and visit places without worry."

$228raised
Fully funded

Natanim is a quiet and gentle two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing with his friends, watching cartoons, and spending time with his mother. He lives with his parents in a rented house. His father works as a shoemaker, and his mother is a housewife. As Natanim grew, he began experiencing symptoms such as pain, itching, and difficulty urinating. Concerned about his health, his parents took him to a health center, where, upon review, a doctor explained that he would need corrective surgery. The news worried Natanim's mother. She felt frightened, anxious, and uncertain about what would happen to her young son. The family was referred to a higher-level hospital for specialized care. There, doctors confirmed his diagnosis as hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. They explained that because Natanim had already been circumcised, his surgery would be more complex and would require specialized pediatric surgical care. Natanim was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on July 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Natanim's mother says, "Thank you so much to everyone. May God bless you all. I am deeply grateful to the BethanyKids team and all the staff for welcoming us with such kindness and respect. The care and service we received were truly different from anywhere else we had been. Thank you for giving my son this opportunity to receive treatment. My greatest hope is that Natanim will grow up healthy and achieve his dream of becoming a football player. May God bless you all."

$1,293raised
Fully funded

Tamirat is a cheerful four-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He lives with his parents, his older brother, and his older sister in a rented house. He loves playing football with his brother and sister. He also enjoys watching movies and cartoons, and one of his favorite activities is praying. His name, Tamirat, means "miracle." His grandmother chose the name because his mother became seriously ill during her pregnancy as a result of heavy physical work. After Tamirat was born, his mother recovered, and the family considered his birth a miracle from God. One day, Tamirat's uncle was helping him get dressed when he noticed that one of his testicles was not in it's place. Concerned, he advised Tamirat's mother to have him examined. At the health center, a doctor examined Tamirat and he also underwent an ultrasound. He was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Tamirat would have an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Tamirat and his mother were referred to a higher-level hospital for further evaluation and treatment, where he was placed on a surgery wait list. Three months later, they were referred to our medical partner's care center, Bethany Kids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). While Tamirat's mother was relieved that this meant her son would receive treatment soon, it also got her anxious as she knew her family could not afford the cost of surgery. She manually cleans other people's clothes to earn an income, while Tamira's father works as a daily laborer. Despite their hard work, they struggle to provide for their family. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Tamirat receive treatment. On July 20th, he will undergo corrective surgery to treat his condition, and reduce medical risks in the future. Now, Tamirat's family needs help to fund this $754 procedure. Tamirat's mother shared, "I am so happy to have come here to BethanyKids. The welcome we received was wonderful, and all the staff were kind and respectful. Thank you so much. May God bless every one of you. May He continue to bless the work of your hands and reward you for the kindness you show to children like my son."

$754raised
Fully funded

Srey Nich is a six-year-old first-grader from Cambodia. Her father sells watermelons, while her mother takes care of the household and the child. During her free time, she enjoys playing hide and seek with her friends in the village and watching cartoons. She also likes studying mathematics at school. Srey Nich has a right foot equinus malformation, which affects her ability to walk and perform her daily tasks. She experiences discomfort when walking and has been teased by classmates, which also affects her emotional well-being and confidence. Srey Nich's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and sought treatment. On May 18th, Srey Nich will undergo surgery that will improve her strength and mobility. Now, she needs help to fund this $582 procedure. Srey Nich's mother said, “After the surgery, I hope that my daughter will be able to walk without difficulty, and live happily without being teased by other children.”

$582raised
Fully funded